Immunohistochemical evaluation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in cutaneous melanoma tissues and four VDR gene polymorphisms

ObjectiveVitamin D receptor (VDR) mediates vitamin D activity. We examined whether VDR expression in excised melanoma tissues is associated with VDR gene (VDR) polymorphisms. MethodsWe evaluated VDR protein expression (by monoclonal antibody immunostaining), melanoma characteristics, and carriage of VDR-FokI-rs2228570 (C>T), VDR-BsmI-rs1544410 (G>A), VDR-ApaI-rs7975232 (T>G), and VDR-TaqI-rs731236 (T>C) polymorphisms (by restriction fragment length polymorphism). Absence or presence of restriction site was denoted by a capital or lower letter, respectively: “F” and “f” for FokI, “B” and “b” for BsmI, “A” and “a” for ApaI, and “T” and “t” for TaqI endonuclease. Seventy-four Italian cutaneous primary melanomas (52.1±12.7 years old) were studied; 51.4% were Stage I, 21.6% Stage II, 13.5% Stage III, and 13.5% Stage IV melanomas. VDR expression was categorized as follows: 100% positive vs. <100%; over the median 20% (high VDR expression) vs. ≤20% (low VDR expression); absence versus presence of VDR-expressing cells. ResultsStage I melanomas, Breslow thickness of <1.00 mm, level II Clark invasion, Aa heterozygous genotype, and AaTT combined genotype were more frequent in melanomas with high versus low VDR expression. Combined genotypes BbAA, bbAa, AATt, BbAATt, and bbAaTT were more frequent in 100% versus <100% VDR-expressing cells. Combined genotype AATT was more frequent in melanomas lacking VDR expression (odds ratio=14.5; P=0.025). VDR expression was not associated with metastasis, ulceration, mitosis >1, regression, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, tumoral infiltration of vascular tissues, additional skin and non-skin cancers, and melanoma familiarity. ConclusionsWe highlighted that VDR polymorphisms can affect VDR expression in excised melanoma cells. Low VDR expression in AATT carriers is a new finding that merits further study. VDR expression possibly poses implications for vitamin D supplementation against melanoma. VDR expression and VDR genotype may become precise medicinal tools for melanoma in the future.